Rosie

2012-01-09T13:49:00.000-08:00

Hello :) I have badly neglected this blog, for a combination of reasons. I have lost the key to my studio, where I like to take my pictures, so I've been locked out, I was ill for some time, worked lots, had a busy christmas etc etc... but Im back now!! (though still haven't found my studio key) sorry for being gone so long...

Christmas was lovely. I spent lots of time with family, ate far too much and was spoilt with lots of lovely gifts. I was given lovely jewelry, pretty clothes (mainly cardigans as they can be worn with bump and post bump!), bits and pieces like photo frames and ornaments for when my David and I finally get our own house (hopefully very soon), lots of pampering toiletries and lots of chocolate!! My craving for chocolate during pregnancy has been ridiculous, so I can't tell you how excited I was to be given so much! Even little Lily was given some lovely presents and she isn't even here yet! I have a feeling friends and family are going to spoil her lots!

I think my favourite present this Christmas was actually a present for my mother. She got a puppy!!! Little Milly, who is just the cutest little thing ever! She is adorable and so affectionate, always wanting cuddles :) Some of you may know the childrens TV program 'Come Outside' from the 90's? with Aunt Mable and Pippin? Our Milly is the grandaughter of Pippin! :)

As you can see, I am now rather huge!! It is only 8 weeks until our little Lily Belle is here! It is scarily close and so exciting. I am now on maternity leave and trying to get everything ready for her arrival, which is so surreal. I can't believe our little girl is going to be with us soon!

Oh, and a late happy new year to you all!! I was far too tired to go to any new years parties, so watched fireworks from our conservatory in my pyjamas instead! My new years resolutions are:

1. To get my little girl here safely, and do everything in my power to make sure she is happy, healthy & safe

2. To get a home with my David for our little family

3. To apply for a PGCE and find a job that will help me get some experience in a school

4. To lose my baby weight

5. To keep on making my art and jewelry and not let it get forgotten

How were your Christmases and new years? I feel very out of the blogging loop, I must catch up with all your posts!

x ♥

p.s: even when my blog goes quiet, Im always on twitter! I'd love to follow some more bloggers on there too :)

2011-12-09T08:16:00.000-08:00

I have been trying for ages and ages to post pictures of things I have been making and my growing bump, but my memory card, camera and battery charger all broke at different times making it impossible. Today, I have everything working, and I have lost the keys to my studio, which is where I take all my pictures!! My studio has much better light than in my house. I tried taking pictures inside but they are such bad quality. Im going to have a good hunt for the keys, so hopefully soon I will have a passable post for you. Until then, they are a little rubbish!

I am still not well and fainting all the time, and it turns out the doctor who told me it was just normal in pregnancy was wrong- I have severe anaemia and a heart murmur. I am being treated now so I'm hoping I will be back to normal soon! But it does mean everything has been a little boring. I have made it into work a few times, but most of my time I am spending snuggled up with cat on the sofa feeling Lily kick and wriggle and feeling very frustrated with myself!

I did manage to go and see My Week With Marilyn with my mama though. It was such a lovely film and I loved spending some time with my mum that didnt involve me feeling very ill and her rushing around after me!

I am also getting very excited for christmas- I can't believe how soon it is!! We are putting up our decorations this weekend, I can't wait!

Is everyone else getting in a christmassy mood?

x ♥

p.s: I am still getting orders out from my shop with the help of my David and parents, and more items will be going up soon!

short & sweet

2011-11-18T10:53:00.000-08:00

Just a little update. I have been trying to post for about a week, but my technology wont cooperate, so I don't have all the pictures I wanted to upload. But I am determined I will very soon!! I have some new things I have made I want to show you all, and I want to show how big my bump is now :)

Things have been a little busy. I have been doing long hours at work, and keep fainting, which is not fun! There is nothing serious, apparently its very normal in pregnancy, but it makes doing anything difficult as I don't know when Im going to go next.

But I have had some lovely times too. Meeting up for lunch with old friends, getting excited about christmas and planning gifts and things to make, enjoying all the festive decorations and bits and pieces in the shops. Being disappointed I cant buy lots of christmas gifts for Lily, but enjoying planning for her first christmas next year. Spending rare days with my David, and just cuddling on the sofa & loving watching his face as he feels Lily's big, strong kicks and movements in my tummy. starting to feel the nesting instinct- I am wanted to clean and tidy and organise everything. I want the whole house to be sparkling and clean, smelling of christmassy candles and flowers!

Hopefully soon I will finally be able to share all of pictures and going on's with you. until then, I am getting rather addicted to pinterest and am on twitter lots too! I am also still making new bits and pieces for my etsy shop all the time!

Hope your all well and happy :)

♥ x

p.s: slightly cheeky, but my David was involved with making this entry for a competition, its a really cute little animation! if you could spare a like for it, we would be very grateful :)

flowers & glitter

2011-11-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

I've had a very busy week, working lots of hours, but work has gone all christmassy this week and I love it! I have to wear our christmas makeup range and glitter all over me, I have been decorating the shop, we have had our christmas candles burning, giving customers christmas makeovers and listening to christmas music!

my long hours meant I didnt have much of a halloween though. I worked late at work, came home and fell asleep! My brother gave me some of his sweets from trick or treating though :)

I have been getting in the christmas mood lately and getting ready for christmas craft fairs and stock for my etsy shop. I have been making some pretty new jewelry with resin flowers and some christmas decorations made out of cinnamon salt dough that make the house smell amazing! I will be putting them up in my shop soon, I hope you all love them :)

And our little Lily. I love being able to really bond with my little girl now I know her gender and name. and she is getting ever so strong and giving me lots of kicks. she even kicked her daddy in the face when his head was on my tummy, hehe! We have been buying lots of pretty little clothes for her and gifts, and I have started reading to her too! I read that if you read a certain story to baby's in the womb they recognise them when they are born and it soothes them. We have been reading Charlie and Lola :) She really responds to my voice now, it's so lovely!

How are you all? are you in the christmas mood yet? did you have fun halloweens?

x ♥

Lily Belle Rose Gower ♥

2011-10-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

our 20 week scan was today, and we found out we have a very healthy little baby girl!! We are so happy. our little Lily Belle Rose Gower ♥

♥ x

autumn

2011-10-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year. I love the weather changing, the colours, the cosiness of wrapping up warm, roast dinners and hot chocolate. I'm even getting excited about christmas already!

I'm also enjoying my new job, even though I have a lot of hours and when Im not working all I want to do is sleep!. The people there are so nice and have made me feel really welcome, and most of the customers are lovely. I love helping the customers find a product that really works for them and they are really happy with, it feels like more than just a job in a shop. Im being trained to do peoples make up too! It means I haven't made anything for the shop this week, but Im still getting orders out and am definitely going to start making christmas items soon!

My little bump is coming along nicely! Im now 19 weeks. I can't believe how fast time is going. My 20 week scan is just a week away, and we have decided we want to find out the sex!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited! The baby has been really active too, and is getting so strong! you can now feel it kicking from the outside of my tummy :) David was the first to feel it, which was so lovely, as I only see him about once a week. I think the baby wanted to show off for daddy :)

Dressing bump is getting trickier as I get further along, I am having to get lots of baggy jumpers now ready for the colder weather, and I needed a new coat as none of mine would do up over my tummy! My family went to london last week for my sisters birthday (I had to go for my flu jab instead!) and came back with the lovely jumper I am wearing in the picture above, with the cutest bear on the front! I love it!

How is everyone else? are you enjoying autumn the cooler weather?

x ♥

happy list!

2011-10-04T07:46:00.000-07:00

10 things making me happy at the moment:

1. some new books. they are wartime romances by one of my favourite authors, elizabeth elgin.

2. finally finishing my blog makeover!

3. making plans to see my David, to make the time we are apart go quicker.

4. ... and spending evenings instant messaging each other while watching TV, so I dont miss him as much :)

5. other peoples generosity- in the last week we have been given a cot and a brand new push-chair very cheap!

6. crunchies and cheese strings- my pregnancy cravings. I am eating hundreds.

7. cooking! This week I made a really yummy spaghetti bolognese, and I'm planning on making a chocolate cheesecake this weekend!

8. The fact I have a job finally! This means less money worries. my job is at the body shop, and I love it there so far- everyones really nice, we get lots of freebies, and part of my training has involved learning how to do facials and make up on customers, which meant other staff having to give me them to demonstrate! It was lovely, and I got paid for it! :)

9. My evening routine. after dinner, curl up on the sofa with a book or a film, and my cat alfie cuddling my bump. he has become very attached to bump...

10. ... and bump loves alfie! every evening, when alfie is giving us cuddles, the baby is most active, and I can feel it wriggling around and giving little kicks inside my belly. Feeling my baby moving is the best feeling ever. Nothing makes me happier. It is amazing! yesterday, I felt the baby jump when our TV suddenly came on really loud- it is so cute, and little things like this are making it seem so much more real to me. I love my baby so much already ♥

what's making you happy at the moment?

x ♥

p.s: I'm now selling some jewelry on ebay. take a look! if you think the price is a bit too much, you can make me an offer on anything you like the look of :)

♥

2011-09-27T12:03:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone for your lovely, kind words on my post. I will get round to thanking you all!

And I apologies for my quietness here. I have been feeling fairly rubbish and ill, and being pregnant definitely doesnt help! I fainted on sunday with it, and have been feeling all achy and sick- yuck. but the doctor has given me some anti sickness tablets, which has helped me feel a bit more normal, but have left me so drowsy! I feel like my eyes are about to close all the time!

My tummy, as you can see, is growing bigger by the minute! I had my first stranger comment on my pregnancy the other day, and tell me I look like I am having a 'very radiant pregnancy' which put a smile on my face :) I am 16 weeks now, time is going fast!

Our little collection of goodies for the baby is growing- bump has a little baby grow I couldnt resist, a cardigan knitted by our neighbor with cute duck buttons, two pairs of booties (the red ones are handmade and I bought a matching purple pair for myself!), a little lamb bought by its daddy, and some other toys I got for free from various mummy and baby clubs I've been joining :)

I've been knitting lots of little bows too, which Im thinking of lots of different things to do with- I think I will use them for decorating lots of different things, and maybe make some into some jewelry and hair slides?

I am starting to get in the christmas mood too- a little early I know, but I've started making christmas decorations and planning the craft fairs I'm selling at this year!

and I have a job!! I work at the body shop now, hehe, not amazing but better than nothing, and I get a 50% discount! :)

I hope your all well! whats everyone been up to?

x ♥

p.s: dont forget about the offer in my shop, which I explained in this post!!

poppy ♥

2011-09-18T11:24:00.000-07:00

my lovely little poppy-pops, at 2 and a half years old, left me today. she is gone and i am already missing her lots.

on thursday, I realised she wasn't very well. Before I go to bed every evening, I usually have a cuddle and play with Poppy. But when I went to see her, I saw she hadn't eaten any of her food all day. she was very weak and couldn't walk. I became very teary. My David was staying that night on the sofa downstairs, and I didn't want to disturb my sister (who I share my room with) so I took poppy downstairs and fed her a bottle of water by hand, and fed her easily manageable food by hand, but was very worried. I was glad to have my David there to comfort me and help me look after Poppy. She looked so small and sad. I prepared myself for the worst.

But Friday morning she was much stronger, walking around and eating by herself. I was so relieved. She was like this all day, and saturday morning. So I kept my fingers crossed.

But last night I knew. she had collapsed in her cage, and was barely conscious. I tried to feed her water and treats again, but she could barely manage to open her mouth. I tucked her up in her little bed, and said goodbyes.

This morning, she was gone.

Poppy was so lovely, and had gotten over a few illnesses in the past most hamsters wouldn't have. she was big and strong, and the vets she had seen all commented on this. She had so much energy, and was so bright with so much personality. She was very friendly and curious. She wasn't afraid of our cats, she seemed to enjoy their company! Her favourite games were climbing very high, and leaping off of whatever surface she could find!! She was very brave and funny. Nothing seemed to phase her. She even fell down the stairs once, panicking me, but she was absolutely fine and happy. She was so silly and lovely. She loved climbing around on my lap and sliding down my legs onto the floor. She loved peanut butter and went mad over it. When I got up in the morning, she would always be there at the door of her cage, watching me do my hair and makeup. I will miss her so much. Already my bedroom seems empty without her, and strange without the sound of little thuds and crashes against the bars where she would dash all over and climb the bars of her cage and leap. Everyone who met commented on how much personality she had for such a little hamster.

She was a lovely little friend to have, I loved her to pieces, and will miss her so so much.

x ♥

birthday treats, charm necklaces and free goodies!!

2011-09-14T06:03:00.000-07:00

hello :) I thought I would finally show you a few of the goodies I got for my birthday!! It's only a month late :) I thought I would show you a few of the prettier things I got for my birthday- having just found out I was pregnant, I asked for more practical things and money than pretty and exciting presents! and Im sure none of you would be very interested to see lots of plain maternity vests and t-shirts, and maternity jeans!

I was very lucky and got quite a few cath kidson items :) I LOVE cath kidson! My parents bought me a pretty floral sewing box of hers, with all sorts of cath kidson goodies inside. I got a very cute bouquet pin cushion, pretty tins full of useful bits and bobs like sewing needles and pins, and lots of cotton reels. My auntie bought me a cath kidson mug, the one I have been wanting forever! It has flowers and strawberries and is so so pretty ♥

I was also treated to lots of jewelry this year, which is perfect to make my outfits at the moment more interesting! You can get pretty maternity clothes, but most of the nice things are ridiculously expensive, and I don't want to pay £40 for a top that I can only wear for 9 months! So most of my maternity clothes are fairly plain, but all the lovely bits of jewelry I got make my outfits much prettier :) my family all chipped in to buy me a lovely charm bracelet and a few charms- so far I have a teapot, a cupcake, and a floral charm. It is lovely! I received lots of different friendship bracelets too, which are very cute. My parents bought me pretty daisy necklace, and David bought me a lovely envelope necklace with an 'I love you' note inside, but I didn't get very good pictures of these and then my camera batteries ran out. Hopefully I can show you soon! And I got some rings which I love, lots of big pretty ones! Charlotte very kindly bought me two, one a big mint green heart, the other is the one in the picture, with the mint green stone. I love them!

I have some new items in the shop! I have some teacup rings, a teapot necklace, and some pretty vintage charm necklaces which you can see above, which charms such as the eiffel tower, hot air balloons, and tea cups and saucers.

I also have a special offer on at the moment! If you spend over £10 in the shop, you will receive a FREE friendship bracelet! And if you spend over £15, you will receive an owl ring, the same as the one in the above picture, for FREE!! click here to go visit the shop :)

I hope your all well :)

x ♥

holiday & excitement & winner

2011-09-07T06:48:00.000-07:00

I am back from holiday :) I had scheduled some posts for while I was away, but neither of them worked unfortunately! I have no idea why, but those posts will be up soon!

My holiday was lovely. Luckily my morning sickness has passed, and I could really enjoy it! It consisted of many beaches, long walks, card games in the caravan, collecting shells, lots of pebbles, paddling in the cold sea, rock pools, finding crabs, finding jellyfish, old fashioned arcades and fun fairs, spotting boats, rainy days, sunny days, little zoos, white lions, ice cream, petting farms, gift shops, sweet shops, homemade fudge, fish and chips, roast dinners, swings, standing on cliff tops, lovely views, feeding white doves out of my hand, and the swan. Our friend the swan. Our caravan had a little private beach, that had one swan living alone there. We went to our little beach only feet away every morning, and the swan would immediately come over to us and nip at our legs and feet until he was fed! It was a little scary at first, but he was lovely.

And we returned home to have my scan a few days later. I was so nervous and scared!! eek. It was yesterday. I was having nightmares for days before about everything going wrong, and it being bad news. The lady rubbed the gel on my belly, and as soon as the little ultrasound thingy was on my tummy, there it was on the screen, our little baby!!! I have felt so happy. I knew immediately everything was ok, our little one is so energetic and playful! It was jumping about all over the place, kicking its little legs and waving its arms. We saw it sucking it's thumb, and even saw it drinking the amniotic fluid! It was opening its little mouth and swallowing!! I couldn't believe how much detail we could see, we could even see its tiny toes wriggling. It was so so amazing!! Heres our baby:

In the picture, it is sucking its thumb, and the other arm is down by its side, and you can see its little toes curled round too! I can't stop smiling. Its about the size of a banana now :) Now I can't wait for our next scan!

***

More exciting news now!! I have used random.org to choose the winner of my giveaway. and the winner is:

LONE ALASKAN GYPSY!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be contacting you about sending your prize very soon :) thank you to everyone who entered!!

I have also put more items up in the shop today, if anyone would like to see :)

x ♥

GIVEAWAY!! ♥

2011-08-24T09:14:00.000-07:00

FINALLY I am doing the giveaway I promised ages and ages ago!! I finally have lots of items up in my shop and have got everything organised so I can do a little giveaway for you all to celebrate!

The items I am giving away are:

1. one of my jar necklaces filled with beads. These necklaces are on a antique, bronze coloured chain that measures 25 inches long. The jars are little, corked glass jars that are about 2inches tall and I have filled each with different coloured beads, which look really pretty and effective when worn :) You can choose one of ten colours, I have numbered them all the first picture. Just let me know which number you would like when entering!

2. A really cute ring, which is an antique gold colour and is of cat ears! Very unusual and pretty design.

3. A little friendship bracelet, with different tones of blue thread woven with teeny star beads all along it.

To enter, leave me a comment on this post! Remember to let me know which colour jar you would like, and also make sure I have some way of getting hold of you to let you know you have won :) To enter you must be a follower of my blog.

For extra entries, you can also:

♥ link to my giveaway on your blog

♥ tweet about my giveaway

♥ favourite my shop on etsy

let me know what you have done in your comment, and link to your twitter and blog if you have done those :)

The winner will be drawn in two weeks, on wednesday the 5th of september. The winner will be picked at random by a random number generator.

Please go take a look at my shop, I have many other items up there! I also have lots of cute baby clothes I want to buy, so could really do with the extra pennies :) haha!

I also have set up an ebay to sell some cute rings like the cat ears one. more will be coming soon :)

I am on holiday next week, but have some posts scheduled. I hope they work, Ive never scheduled posts before!

hope everyones happy and enjoying the end of their summers :)

♥ x

p.s: I've started a pregnancy blog!! hello baby

announcement ♥

2011-08-22T04:08:00.000-07:00

So, the big news I've been waiting to announce... I'm pregnant, as you have probably guessed from the first picture!!!!!!

It was a massive shock. It wasn't planned! When I found out, I couldn't stop shaking.

My David and I have always wanted children. we both love children and get very broody! We've always said we can't wait to have our own family. We had everything planned out, we would go to uni, then when we graduated, we would move back home, David would get a job in the animation and CG industry, I would start my little business. We would save, then get married, then get our own place, then have children. But it hasn't quite worked like that!

We took all the 'precautions' and everything to make sure it didn't happen yet, but this one time they didn't work.

And now, WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course, it was a huge shock. There is lots to think and worry about. But we are SO thrilled and excited!

I was worried about telling my family, and I felt guilty. David and I have been living together for 3 years while at uni, and now I have moved back home, I get pregnant!! But they are so excited, it's been amazing. As has David's family. We're really lucky.

Davids going to have two jobs, I'm trying to get this shop together (I'm still waiting for some materials to arrive!! Argh! But I have lots I can't wait to show you), and we are going to make this work and save save save! My parents have been wonderful and supportive and said we can live with them for as long as we need, but we are hoping to get enough money together to get our own place as soon as possible.

Oh, and the proposal!! It wasn't a shotgun thing, I know people will think it's only because of the baby, but as I said in my last post, David's been planning the proposal since last year. It was going to be this august in Rome. But that money now needs to go towards other things, so it was on my doorstep instead :) but it would have happened, baby or not. We are waiting to have the actual wedding until after the baby's born, so I don't look like an elephant!! :)

So, yes!!! That's our news :) I was waiting until our 12 weeks scan to announce it, to make sure everything is ok, which has been hard, not saying anything. I am 11 weeks at the moment, I'm on holiday when I'm 12 weeks, so I have to wait until 13 weeks for my scan, which is frustrating. However, I bought an at home fetal heart monitor, which I have been playing around with, and getting faint sounds and things that I thought could be the heartbeat. Then last night, I heard this:

I was so happy I cried!!! So, I thought I would announce it all now. I couldn't wait anymore!

The pregnancy so far has been hard, which explains why I haven't blogged very much! I have really bad sickness that lasts all day. From 5 weeks to now, so for 6 whole weeks, I haven't stopped feeling sick. I have gone off all food except mash potato, peas, and plain pasta.

I have really awful exhaustion too, to the point where by about 5pm everyday I literally can no longer keep my eyes open. My hormones are all over the place. The stretching pains have been bad. I feel so ill all the time, it's horrible!! I never realised the first 3 months were so hard! But it should be over soon. I'm on holiday in the isle of wight next week and really hope I'm feeling a bit better by then.

I already don't fit in my normal clothes! My bump has grown fast. I am in maternity jeans and comfy tops all the time. Not very stylish, but Im hoping to go a bit prettier and more creative with maternity clothes when I'm feeling better!

So thats my big news!! Don't worry, this isn't going to suddenly become a pregnancy blog. I will obviously write about how the pregnancy's going and baby things but I won't suddenly bombard you with lots and lots of pregnancy and baby posts all the time, there will still be all the usual stuff! I am thinking about starting a new blog just for the pregnancy. What do you think?

I was so nervous writing this post, but it's such a relief to finally be able to tell you all!

♥ x

engaged ♥

2011-08-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

top to bottom: valentines day 2011, us and our poppy soon after moving into our uni house in 2009, our last day of school in 2006, our first holiday together in 2007

sorry for being a useless blogger again, I have been busy and super tired. when Im not working in my studio, Im sleeping! explanation coming for that soon. I have BIG news. and a giveaway coming soon too!

but, I have other BIG news to share with you now :)

last weekend was my 21st birthday. On the friday, the day before my birthday, I was having a party in the evening. My David is still living in our uni house, for the next few weeks, while he still has a job there and until our tenancy runs out. the uni house is nearly 3 hours away, but he was supposed to be leaving on the friday morning to make it to my party in the evening and stay the weekend. I was feeling rubbish and ill on the friday morning, when I got a message from him to say he'd been called into work urgently and wouldn't be able to leave until much later, so was possibly going to miss my party. I was so disappointed, as well as feeling rubbish. My family were all out, and I stayed in my pyjamas feeling sorry for myself all morning. Then there was a knock on the door.

It was my David. I opened the door, looking like death, and there he was, on my doorstep, on one knee, with my great-grandmothers ring, and he PROPOSED!!!!

I just cried and cried and hugged him for what felt like forever. It was so lovely.

I have also always wanted my grandmothers ring. I asked my mother a while ago whether it would be possible for me to have as an engagement ring when the time came, which she was so happy about :) It is beautiful, one emerald and two diamonds either side, encased in a swirly gold pattern. It is at the jewelers being resized at the moment, but there will be pictures as soon as it's back! My great grandmother died just weeks before I was born. She was close to my mother and so excited about having her first great grandchild, and had bought lots of baby things and knitted me little outfits, but I never got to meet her. So there is quite a sweet connection too :)

I cannot believe me and my David are engaged!!!! We have been together since we were 15 years old, known each other since we were 11. I had a crush on him when I first met him at school, then decided he was a silly and annoying boy and spent years finding him irritating. He started liking me when we were 13. He was very persistent, and followed me around everywhere, and enlisted the help of mutual friends. We became best friends, but it wasn't until I went to house one day I realised I had fallen for him. We were there with his older sister, who was pregnant, and he was so sweet and caring with her. And I realised then that I wanted to be with him. And here we are, almost 6 years later, and we're going to get married!!

He told me he was planning his proposal for almost a year. It was going to in Rome, at the end of this month. He had been secretly saving for a surprise holiday there where he would propose, but due to some recent events, realised the money has to go elsewhere and it wasn't going to happen. So instead of Rome, it happened on my doorstep, while I had no makeup on, messy hair, and was in my pyjamas. I think it was perfect!

wow, I have rambled!! If you read all that, then thank you!

x ♥

studio!! ♥

2011-07-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

Picture of the girl in glasses: David Shrigley, rabbit and squirrel print: matt saunders, larger painting: lyzi

fabric cat: lyzi, Rosie Bird: Donna Wilson

Drawing of me, poppy, Alfie and Archie: charlotte

here is my finished studio!! finally, after weeks of building and painting and decorating, it's all done :) It's such a lovely place to work, I love it!

Now it's finished I've been able to spend all day making all sorts of bits of bobs for the shop, so expect to see some items up for sale soon! Probably early this week, I won't be doing much this weekend as I turn 21 this Saturday, so will be celebrating :) I will also finally get round to that giveaway I have been promising for so long!

hope your all having lovely summers

x ♥

Graduation ♥

2011-07-17T13:52:00.000-07:00

My David & I have graduated :) It was a lovely day, with our families there and everyone we have been at uni with for the last 3 years. We wore the silly hats and the gowns that made us look like we were in Harry Potter, and now, university is finally over for good!!

This week my studio will be finished, and i am going to work really hard to get my shop up and selling in the next two weeks! I will be having a giveaway as soon as its all done, so I hope all of you will enter! There will be lots of goodies available for winning.

Congratulations to all the other people graduating or finishing school at the moment!

x ♥

bunting & ladybirds

2011-07-10T14:54:00.000-07:00

I am a very lucky girl. my dad and uncle built my studio this week, and I have spent all my time since then painting and decorating it! I love it, it is so big with lots of light, and im going to have my own little herb garden outside. I have put up my bunting and my giant ladybirds climb all up the side. My Kitten, Alfie, loves it and has been keeping me company in there. He has also had fun playing with the bunting blowing in the wind, and got a bit over excited and stole one of the flags!! hehe, silly kitten. I am painting the inside white. I wanted to have the painting done by the end of today, and to have started putting up lots of pretty things on the wall, but the weather proofing underneath is red and keeps coming through!! So far I have done 3 coats and it still isnt finished. Im exhausted! That is why there is masking tape all around the windows, please excuse it :)

It has to be left until next weekend now though, because tomorrow I go back up to our uni house. I have to get the final things finished around the house, and on Friday I GRADUATE. eep!! so grown up and scary!

This will probably be my last week in the uni house with my David. The last time I will live with him until we can save enough money for our own place, which we have no idea when it will be. It is going to be strange, not living with him for a while. He will be living 45 minutes away. I am going to be very upset, I will miss him so much. Expect a very soppy post next week!!!

x ♥

2011-07-03T18:00:00.000-07:00

I am home for good! Its so nice saying that. I have officially passed uni and moved back home. I have been waiting so long to do that! It was sad though, moving out of the house my David and I have lived in for two years, our first house together. but without the student loan, at the moment we cant afford to live together. I will miss him a lot, but I am so happy to have finished uni! And the weather here is beautiful at the moment too, which helps! I've been getting in a very summery mood, eating my meals barefoot in the garden, wearing the new shorts I made out of David very old jeans :) I'm quite proud of my little DIY!

those of you who follow my twitter will know that since being home, my little studio in the garden has been built! I have started decorating it and hope it will be finished by the end of this week, fingers crossed! I will take lots of photos to share with you when its done. It is so lovely in our garden at the moment too, in the sun shine! I think I will enjoy working out there very much. And to make things even more perfect, we found a teeny wild strawberry plant growing just beside my studio!! Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while will know my obsession with strawberries, I even have a little strawberry tattooed on my wrist, and I have always wanted to grow my own. I want to tend to it and make it grow and grow and grow, and maybe even start growing some herbs too! I am making lots of little plans at the moment, and am working really hard to get my shop set up and my business running. everything is very exciting at the moment!!

I hope the sun is shining where you are too! :)

♥ x

2011-06-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

Just a little post, not very exciting really, but I want to get back into the habit of blogging more! I've spent this weekend at home to help get my studio built and ready in the garden, but the weather has made it impossible!! The rain has meant whenever we get started, we have to stop and cover it over again, so it's still all in pieces at the moment. I was hoping to be decorating it by now! So this week has turnt into a rather lazy one. Lots of drinking tea ( my mother makes me tea every 5 minutes when I'm home, and I love it!!), drawing and making little things, eating lots of yummy food and lots cuddles with little Alfie, who is missing Archie very much. The only really productive thing I have done is shop for my nephews birthday present, but I got slightly distracted by this adorable little bumblebee dress and bought it for my niece! oops, i couldn't resist though!

( my camera is getting on my nerves. I cant get these little marks off of the lens and it makes little blotches all over my pictures!!)

more interesting posts to come very soon, I promise!!

x ♥

one hundred

2011-06-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

Finally writing post number 100!!! although it isn't what I promised- sorry!! no giveaway yet. I've had such a busy few weeks and I'm not quite ready, but in the next few weeks there should be one. Without sounding cheesy, thank you so much to all of your for reading my blog!! I know I'm an absolutely rubbish blogger, as uni and a job with long hours has made posting difficult, rare and a bit all over the place. So for those of you who have stuck with me, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have finished university!!! wow, it feels weird writing that. It still hasn't sunk in yet. my work for the degree show was one of my animations of my stick man and dog, projected onto the open lid of an old fashioned school desk. It was all about childhood and memory, and forgetting memories ect, and was in a tiny little space in the exhibition. I wasn't 100% happy with it if I'm honest, but I've had good feedback from other people. And one of my external examiners was Mariele Neudecker, which was amazing!! I had to be interviewed by her for my assessment, and was nervous, especially when the girl before me came out crying!! but she was so lovely, and told me my work was beautiful and even gave me some contacts she thought i should get in touch with for galleries she thought would be interested in my work!! it was amazing!!

I have been doing lots of celebrating with friends and family, and have been completely spoilt too. My mother bought me some new pretty dresses, one with a starry skirt, and one with cat print all over. My Nan bought me a lovely wooden necklace with a triangle pattern sewed into it, and David bought me some beautiful flowers, wine and fudge!

I also recieved a wonderful package from Lyzi over at being little after winning her giveaway!! I was so excited :) I got so many amazing goodies!! I received a print of her beautiful mizu no kokoro painting, one of her really cute sewn kitties, a recipe for raspberry lemonade, some really pretty cupcake cases, a headscarf, some lovely jewelry by ella masters and a 'knit your own ninja' kit!! I finished the ninja last night, and love it!! My David tried to steal it from me he liked it so much :) If you haven't visited Lyzi's blog before, go do it now!!! She is very talented and her blog is one of my favourites!

we have had some bad news though this month. Archie, our kitten, is missing. He's been missing for a week and a half now, and it is awful without him. we are keeping everything crossed that he will turn up soon, but we do miss him. As does Alfie. It's just not right having Alfie without Archie!! Archie is quite silly, and likes to wander into neighbors houses, and get himself into strange places, so our guess is he's been accidently locked in somewhere. But we are desperate to have him back. I know this is a long shot, but if anyone who reads this is in the Reading area, have you seen a black cat with a blue collar wandering about anywhere?? or know of one thats been found?? we miss him :(

since finishing uni. I have been busy trying to set up my own little business. It's very scary and daunting at the moment!! I have been working really hard too produce lot so things to start selling, such as the sewn animals, little woven bracelets, and miniature jars with little sewn characters inside, which will become pendants! Hopefully my shop will be up and ready soon. Once it is, I will have that giveaway I promised. My parents are also building my studio in the garden this weekend, which is so exciting!! I will be in there next week decorating and can't wait!! I have also filled the time with some day trips out to farms and castles, painting my nails bright colours, drawing and cooking lots, and watching lots of rubbish TV!!

Also, now I've finished uni and my job in the student bar, I will blogging LOTS more!! I'm hoping to blog at least once a week now, I've been waiting so long to be able to blog properly! It also means you won't have to read huge long posts like this where I try to squeeze a million things into one post!! I've been trying to comment on some of your lovely blog posts I've read and reply to you all, but blogger won't let me comment??! hopefully that will be fixed soon!

take care

x ♥

strawberry swing ♥

2011-05-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

hello! this is what the nice parts of my may have looked like. may has been crazy crazy crazy. I have a week until I finish uni. WOW, It hasn't quite sunk in yet. But because of that, may has been very full of work and deadlines. But in the time I have taken to breathe, I have filled it with with cuddles with kittens, poppy pops, and bruce and lenny, new additions to my summer wardrobe, including a few new pairs of shoes, a pretty graduation dress, colourful scarves, patterened tights, blue cardigans, strawberry rings and huge floaty tops, yummy treats such as eggs and soldiers in my hello kitty egg cup, and a lovely falafel recipe by lyzi at being little. I also recieved some treasures from charlottie including teeny books, letters, a teeny chic, a bunny pencil, a tiny hamster called harold and a star ring, and my David bought me a pretty silver daisy ring too. So my month hasn't been all bad!!

The uni work is madness at the moment though, as there is so much to do for the degree show. Last week we had to prepare the exhibition space, which involved building extra walls, sanding of walls (by hand, my hands are very blistered!!) painting all the walls and the floor. This week we are putting the work up ready to be marked. Then we wait until the 10th of June when it will be open to the public. I am terrified!!!!!!!

Then that will be it, uni will be over. And I go out into the real world. Again, I am completely terrified!!! But I am also very very lucky. My mum and dad have been the best parents ever. They know how, more than anything, I would love to be able to just make and sell my artwork and jewelry, but financially, I can't afford to take the time to start building up my own business. But, they have secretly been saving and are about to buy me a summer house for a studio at the end of the garden, and are willing to support me as they want me to try and get my business to take off. Its amazing!!!!! I could not believe it. And they are not rich, or well off at all, but through one way and another they have got the money together. I feel so lucky, but strangely guilty too. I feel like I will be a burden to them, and also guilty that I am getting this chance that others don't who are much more talented than me! But I am going to work really hard at making it work, and doing craft fairs and my etsy shop and making lovely things to sell so that hopefully I will be able to repay them one day.

So, the next time I post, in a few weeks time, I will have finished uni. It will be also be my 100th post, and I am hoping I will have had a big makeover on this blog and my etsy shop and already have some products to sell! So I am planning on celebrating with a big giveaway, that I hope you will all love!

Hope you are all well, and good luck to all of you who have exams and deadlines!!

x ♥

♥

2011-04-29T07:40:00.000-07:00

Such a beautiful wedding, and kate looked stunning. So lovely. I was quite emotional!! So proud to be British right now, and even more so as I only live a few minutes away from where kate grew up, she's a local!! Hopefully her family will have Harry round one day, so we can meet and fall in love!!! hehe : ) They seem like a very sweet, very in love couple and its been a wonderful day.

Hope your all enjoying the day, whatever you are doing. I have been drinking many cups of tea from my mothers posh china and eating english muffins with marmite all day!

x ♥

2011-04-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

♥ easter time, jelly bunnies, strawberry cakes, eggs, sunshine, flowers, lunch in the garden, playing with the camera with my little brother, easter egg trees, poppy pops and cuddles, summer dresses, old photographs, family time, smiles ♥

I hope you all had a lovely easter

♥ x

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spring

2011-04-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

hello lovelies!! how are you all? I have been away so long again! busy busy times. lots has happened. I was poorly for a while, which was horrible as it put a stop to most of my work for a week. but I passed the time with little spurts of creative makes, and read lots, particularly oh comely magazine, my new favourite!

the start of spring has been so lovely, the weather has been amazing. pretty flowers have been popping up in the garden. I have ben buying little things for my spring wardrobe. pretty tops with unicorns and pastel colours, sandals, necklaces with dears on, mint coloured rings. I have been to concerts in the park with dancing and fireworks, I have been to alton towers. I went to the O2 to see peter kay on tour and laughed so hard I cried and my tummy hurt. I have a new baby niece!! Well, it is Davids sisters baby, but I am so close to his family and have been part of their family for so long I consider his nieces and nephews my own. They call me auntie Rosie! The new addition is beautiful and so tiny, only 6lb. I have had film nights with friends, film nights with my David. Cookie dough ice cream. chinese food. I went to my summer ball at university, which was an amazing night with lots of dancing, live music and fairground rides.

It was Davids 21st birthday too, which we celebrated with cheesecake and a yummy dinner and watching lots and lots of DVDs. and I got him a special present. Meet Lenny and Bruce, our new rats!!

They are lovely!! I realise a lot of you may squirm at the thought of rats, but ours are adorable and silly and cute!

But, as usual, most of my time has been taken up with work. But only a month and a little to go and I have finished university. eek!!

I did a test of the idea I have for my final exhibition. I made a little animation based around a little stick man, and projected this onto a piece of paper on a desk, so it looked like a drawing had come to life. The work is based around childhood, children's imaginations, and growing up and losing childhood. I didn't like the desk though, and the animation needs improving. But I have managed to get an old fashioned school desk that I'm going to use for my final exhibition instead. Im very very nervous!!

How are you all?? I am home for my easter break now, its lovely to be back. are any of you doing anything nice for easter? and the royal wedding!! Im so excited! are any of you having street parties?

x ♥

pancakes

2011-03-08T05:33:00.000-08:00

hello! as usual uni work has been taking over completely, it is getting completely overwhelming. I only have 6 weeks left in the studio before my degree exhibition and graduation!! we have easter holidays in between, but 6 weeks is no time at all. Its becoming far too real that I have no idea what to do when those 6 weeks are over, but I have to be grown up and earn money and everything somehow. eek!

I have had a few nice distractions in the middle of all this work though. Oh comely magazine is one of these- a week ago I went into the studio and on my desk were these two magazines with a note on top from kate. She thought I would love them and i really really! so beautiful and inspiring! I have bought a subscription and cant wait to receive the next issue.

I went home for a weekend a few weeks ago too. My Grandmother is now in a dementia home and we had to clear out her house. It was sad but lovely, really. She had all these lovely hidden treasures nobody knew about that were so so sweet. She had a box with different mementos from her and Grandads wedding- cards and name tags and the cake topper and handmade gifts from nieces and nephews, and newspaper cuttings. She had another little box with similar things from my parents wedding. We found a box of letters my Grandad had written to her when they were first together, that were so sweet and lovely to read. And little sewing boxes with old buttons and fabric and dress patterns that I now have. It all seems to special to use though!

My David and I have also had our anniversary. 5 years we have now been together!! which seems such a strangely huge number at such a young age, we're only 20!! We had a lovely day out visiting an old manor house and gardens, and spent the evening watching lots and lots of films and drinking wine. And he bought me a book on decorating cupcakes which has the most amazing designs in!! You can see my attempt above- its suppose to be us. they tasted much better than they look! hopefully I'll get better...

I hope you all have a lovely pancake day!!

x ♥

hearts and bears and bones

2011-02-13T06:33:00.000-08:00

hello :) so much has happened and i had so much to tell you, but i cant really remember a thing. its all been going so fast. this semester is scary and busy and zooming by so quickly im barely noticing it.the last few weeks have been filled with drawing drawing drawing, animating, pictures, research, reading, theatre trips, baby showers, taking care of poppy, home, work, more work, cleaning, cooking, shopping, long journeys, pretty clothes and pretty rings, films, cuddles, games, inspiration, sadness, plans, tiredness, and more work.

this weekend my David and I decided to have an early valentines day, as we are both working on the actual day. we took a trip to manchester. we saw museums with ginormous dinosaurs and pretty jars and creatures, we took walks through parks and streets, we shopped and bought games and a snood with bear ears and eyes on it (that i attempting to wear in the wind in the first picture), we had yummy food in a hidden place with drawings on the wall, we had huge mugs of caramel coffee, and cuddles and sleeps on the train.

oh, and i have made a new tumblr! i still have my old tumblr for inspiration pictures and bits and bobs, but my new one is just for my artwork at uni. go have a peek if you would like (the links for both are in my sidebar.)

i have been completely rubbish at replying to comments, although i always always read them and love them!! so thank you to everyone. im pretty sure somebody very sweetly gave me an award a little while ago?? i read the comment in one of my rushed peeks before work, was thrilled, and now cant remember which post or very kind person it was? if it was you, let me know, and i shall come and thank you properly!! sorry!

i have two new characters i am yet to makes out of bits and bobs, but i do have a few little drawing of them already. they are greg and tallulah, and they shall be celebrating valentines day together :) they say hello!

what are you all doing for valentines day??

fall head first like paper planes in playground games ♥

2011-01-20T12:56:00.000-08:00

things are starting to look better, and i am determined to be positive!! our house is nearly all fixed, and i think our issues with the landlord have been sorted. poppy has started to look better, she seems to be improving, so we are keeping everything crossed at the moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

things that have made me happier:

♥ a post from charlotte. letters and a red shiney heart and pretty pictures :)

♥ my David. he has been wonderful, as he always is. i have been a crying emotional mess, and he has stayed very calm, dealt with everything, and given lots of cuddles. and it is his house and his poppy too, but he has been amazing ♥ the photos of hearts, except the red one from lottie, are a few of the ones we have given each other in our almost-five-years togther. we realised we have a collection now. whenever we find something heart shaped, we give it as a gift. i have many pebbles, leaves, petals, and odd random objects shaped like hearts from him, and he had from me!

♥ buying some treats. a chinese takeway, a very very pretty little wooden friend called lolita, and a laptop. eek!!! i have a laptop, my first one ever!!

♥ your comments and support. i know i am completely rubbish at blogging regularly and replying to your comments, but i really do appreciate those of you who have stuck with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i am back in the studio next week working, so hopefully i will have some new to show you soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

how are you all????

x ♥

pops

2011-01-13T15:23:00.000-08:00

my dearest little poppy pops is poorly. my heart is breaking.

we also have a flood in our uni house, and an angry unreasonable landlord.

and i dont have time, because pops needs me.

sorry for the negativeness.

x ♥

very merry indeed

2010-12-29T11:10:00.000-08:00

hello!! how are you all??? how are you enjoying the festivities??? my christmas was lovely. I received some amazing gifts, skirts and jumpers and cardigans, floral boots, necklaces, earrings, an owl brooch, a hair bow, a little kit for making little christmassy friends, books and books and more books, floral perfume, a card by matt saunders, a ds with harry potter lego game (which is so so so fun!!! and i was so thrilled, i was not expecting a ds at all!!) and a where wally book, and special teas and a tea infuser and a teacup and biscuit tins and biscuits to go iside, and my boy's sister make me a little wooden doll of me which i think was my favourite gift! and i ate so so so much turkey and sprouts and stuffing and cranberry sauce and pickled onions ( a strange family tradition to have on our dinners at christmas!!) and custard and chocolate logs and homemade cakes and sweets and wine. And it has been wonderful!!

I have given the blog a little makeover. I am very very very very very aware that I have six months until I leave uni. scary scary. and more than anything, one day I wish to be able to make enough money from my art and crafts to just do that, and not have another job. I want to do craft fairs and sell my work online and maybe one day have a little shop. but i still get embarrassed about showing my work much. so i am going to try and make this blog even more about my art and what i do to try and build my confidence a bit and get better at prmoting myself, without getting silly and embarrassed every time. so instead of chimerical, this blog is now simply 'Rosie'. and i will post more of my work and update my shop more. and i will try not to be shy and think my work isnt good enough. that is my new years resolution.

Do you have any new years resolutions??

Happy 2011 everyone!!

x ♥

2010-12-24T08:24:00.000-08:00

I am home!! I arrived at hom for christmas a wee ago. Its been wonderful. so so much snow and excitement and homemade meals and games and family visits and christmas films and christmas songs and preparations. Its been so lovely! The kittens are loving their first christmas, knocking baulbles off of the tree and playing in the snow. And as a welcome home present, my weeny brother had made me some heart shaped biscuits with sprinkles! so cute.

My David and I are spending christmas with our families, so we had our very own early christmas. I made a christmas dinner and we drank mulled wine and sang christmas songs and exchanged gifts. He bought me some amazing presents!! A very cute dress with the sweetest collar, a teapot in the shape of a cottage. and a piece by Donna Wilson, one of my favourite artists!! I am so thrilled!! She is calld Rosie Bird and love her!!

There is still lots of snow and our snowman is still standing, so we will have a white christmas. I have my sparkley starry skirt on and am listening to christmas music and wrapping the last of the gifts today. And we have mince pies and carrots and milk ready to leave out for father christmas. and stockings ready to hang. and my last advent calendar chocolates have been eaten. and someone will visit tonight in a red red coat. and tomorrow all the family will be here and I will help mother cook. and the festivitis will begin, and for the next week there will be parties and presents and laughter and games and walks and food and glitter and I may burst with excitement!!!!!!

What are you doing for the festive period????

have a very very very

merry christmas ♥

x ♥

the first week of December ♥

2010-12-03T05:27:00.000-08:00

I ♥ snow. I ♥ wrapping up warm. I ♥ making fudge. I ♥ advent calendars. I ♥ decorating our house. I ♥ Rosie the robot. I ♥ father christmas tin toy with a wind up key. I ♥ snow cat. I ♥ mr and mrs snow blob. I ♥ starry wellingtons and cosy slippers. I ♥ watching films and snuggling up with my David.

I ♥ christmas!!

x ♥

winners and excitement ♥

2010-11-24T11:05:00.000-08:00

Hello :) I apologise, this post has taken a lot longer than i wanted to post!! I have been so completely busy busy busy with uni and work.I have been pretty much spending all of my time when I am not in work in the studios, making and sewing and drawing. I now have a kitty cat ring. I wear it with my owl ring. They keep eachother comapnay. the owl and the pussycat. I have some new characters I have made in the studios to keep me company too!! The newest is a little girl, who likes ribbons and cake. Particularly strawberry flavour. She lives in a jar. Her name is Polly :)

When I have been able to take little breaks, my time has been occupied with vogue reading-- i adore all the starryness this month!!! magic!!!!!-- and Harry Potter watching. It was amazing!!! I cried. ever so much.

and today I went on a trip to Nottingham to visit galleries. I saw lots of lovely artwork, and the castle, and watched them set up the ice skating rink. and I drank tea and ate cake. It was lovely!!

and this weekend i am going hhooommmeee!!! I havent been in so long!! I have been missing my family and the kittens ever such a lot. It will be lovely to see them, and visit the christmas markets, and have some of mothers baking! I cannot wait!!

Time for the result of the giveaway!!! Thank you so much to everybody who entered. you are all lovely :) I used a random number generator to pick a winner, and the lucky little one who will be recieving a little package with a starry ring and some teeny suprises is...

♥ sara ♥

congratulations!! I will message you my email address, so you can send me your address :)

32 days till christmas!!! are you excited???? eek!! I am, very very very much!!

just a little note-- i have noticed if you view my blog in interet explorer sometimes my links are not the right colour. instead of dusky pink, they are a horrible blue colour that clashes horribly with my blog. sorry about that. does anyone know how to fix that??? it never used to do that!

take care dears!!

♥ x

giveaway & 45 days!!

2010-11-10T06:42:00.000-08:00

hello again :) this post has taken a lot lot longer than I wanted!! All sorts of things got in the way-- i was ill, i was waiting for my new camera to arrive, when the camera did arrive, i couldnt transfer my pictures to the computer, had to wait for my sd card reader to arrive, it arrived at home instead of uni, had to wait even longer for it... but finally, I can finish!!

I have lots and lots of new jewelry in the shop!! Im very excited about it. I've tried to keep the prices really reasonable too- for a ring its around £2.50, for a necklace its £5.00 (these arent exact because of etsy working in dollars!)- so i hope people can get them as cute gifts for christmas even if you dont have many pennys!!

All of the clay figures are still there too, and i am making some christmas ones at the moment :)

So, to celebrate, I am having a giveaway!! The item I have chosen for the giveaway is my wooden star ring, plus some little extra goodies i always like to put in packages. I like to add in pretty little extras and decorative bits and pieces for the items I sell too!! I have made lots of these wooden rings, there are hearts aswell as stars, so if you are not the lucky winner, you can find some in my shop :)

To enter, just leave me a comment. I will also give extra entries for anyone who posts about my giveaway or shop on their blog or twitter :) If you do either of these, let me know in the comment. so...
comment= 1 entry
post/blog mention= 1 more entry
twitter mention= 1 more entry

so you have the oppertunity to be entered 3 times :) The winner will be chosen at random on saturday 20th November.

♥ ♥ ♥

Thank you for all your kind words in regards to my rant in my last post. I am feeling much more postsive about my work now, and your kindness really helped cheer me up :) I made my complaint, as did others (she made another girl break down and cry in the middle of a seminar since my tutorial too!!) so hopefully something will be done.

Since my last post, I got ill with a chest infection, and very very embarrassingly fainted onto my tutor during a seminar. very embarrassing. he had to catch me!!! but after lots of rest and warm blackcurrant and soup and ice cream I am feeling much much better.

And I am ever so excited about my new camera!! Im still trying to work out how to use it, but me and poppy have been messing around taking lots of pictures :)

For uni I have been making little animations with a little man called timothy, who was made out of thread on the paper my gingerbread man was in one lunch time. I learning how to animate which is very exciting, im not very good but I like the shakey, old effect my un-skilled-ness gives it!! hehe :)

i have done lots of christmas shopping too!! eee, im so excited, only 45 days!!!! i have also been buying myself lots of big big cosy jumpers to keep myself warm, and making warm homely dinners (using my new cute owl salt and pepper shakers!!) and brownies , and making plans with my family and my David to visit christmas markets and fairs. And I have glittery nails and a hello kitty advent calender, waiting for the first door to be opened!! Im so very very excited.

How are you all?? Have you started planning and preparing for christmas yet??

love x ♥

Jolie

2010-10-19T05:38:00.000-07:00

Meet Jolie. Jolie is a little friend i have made. She is made out of ink and sits very happily on my wrist. we have decided we shall be friends forever. She is ever so nice and sweet. She says hello.

My David got a little inked friend at the same time as me. his is an adorable penguin, who sits on his arm.

my little sister turnt 16 this week. eek, scariness!!! for her birthday we went shopping in Camden market. i do love it there!! I got my self some treats. a snuggly starry jumper, a cute giraffe necklace, a fluffy jumper with reindeers on, an owl for my finger, a little t-shire with a princess and stars on the front, a little brooch too.

I saw the kittens, they have grown such a lot!! And teeny ollie. He had made e some sparkly drawings and scribbles. I love them. he said i could use them in an art exhibition if i like, he is so very cute :)

I had a horrible horrible tutorial last week. A new tutor came to talk to all of us individually. It was horrible. I have so many ideas for this year, but she made me feel every single one of them was rubbish, even though my other tutor liked them. she told me my work was too sweet and happy, and i had to make it more gritty and look at themes like violence and such. I told her no, that isnt me or my style. I want to exaggerate the happiness and cuteness of the dolls i make, not make them disturbing and horrible. she was getting frustrated with me. she said im too girly, my handwritings’ too neat, and everything about me and my space was too nice and sweet. she started to get quite personal and didn’t offer any advice or encouragement beyond looking at violent subjects. I cried. I completely understand with art not everybody will like what i do or my style, and i have to accept critism, but this woman was horrid and didn’t help me with my work one bit. I felt so down i wouldn’t go into the studio for two days, i didn’t see the point in carrying on with my work that is apparently so rubbish. then i spoke to my friend, and she was very angry and upset. she said this woman had said the same in nearly all of the tutorials she did that day, made a fair few people cry and made lots very angry. she was so negative and awful. so we are making a complaint. I have felt rubbish about my work since then, but i am trying to stay as positive as i was before seeing that woman. sorry. you do not wish to hear me ramble.

I have been making little figures with wooden heads and rosy cheeks. they are megan, tom and sally.

i also have lots of plans for my shop. i am busy making lots more jewelry and Christmassy things. please do visit and tell me what you think, it will all be there very soon.

Also, I am having a giveaway very very soon, when all of my new jewelry is done!! I hope you all will enter :)

I feel like I have lost touch with a lot of you. I am still sneakily checking your blogs when i can, and naughtily skipping making comments. i seem to have no time. I will make more of an effort, because i am missing you all. I love it here. do say hello, i am making a promise to you that i will come and visit and reply on everybody that does on this post. It make take me a wile to get back, but i am determined i will!!

love x ♥

little errol.

2010-10-04T07:36:00.000-07:00

meet little errol, in the top picture. he is my new little friend. he is so teeny and lovely he fits in my bag or my pocket and i take him where ever i go. he likes that.

the last few weeks have been busy busy. uni then work then uni then work. but i am not absolutely miserable this year. it feels ok, a bit more manageable, a bit more positive. last year i felt lost and tired and overwhelmed. i feel different now. im not really sure why but im glad.

i have been getting ready for winter. slippers and wooly socks and thick jumpers and boots and starting to wear my red winter coat. excitement for christmas is starting!!

i have been cooking also. soups and cottage pies and roast dinners. comforting yummy food. giggles and films and walks with my David. missing my family a little. missing the kittens too.

i have set up my studio space and making new little friends to jin me there and keep me company and make me smile. they sit and watch me work. making more little friends from wire and fabric and wood.

lots of starwberries too. strawberry earrings, and necklaces, and rings. starwberries on my notebook. starwberries in my smoothies and in my tummy. strawberries on my bracelet. maybe a starwberry frind to sit on my wrist in ink??

i have been busy and have something to do all the time, but i feel awake and i am content and ok, which is a relief. for a long time everything has felt overwhelming. just now it feels fine. i hope this lasts a little while longer.

how are your autumns??

x ♥

butterflies

2010-09-11T16:21:00.000-07:00

It is the end of the holidays and on Monday I will be back at uni, back to mine and my Davids house, and back to work. so many feelings, so very confusing. Excitement about being in my third year, excitement to see where i will be by th end of the year, excited about my artwork, about cooking, learning new recipes, excited to be in the house with just me and my David again. Sadness to be leaving my family, and scared. Scared of what might happen when i leave at the end of this year, scared that I wont be good enough to pass my course. Scared about money worries and work.

I have been busy busy busy with making these little figures. The little round characters i first started drawing when i was 11, and friends and family have been asking for me to do illustrations and paintings and figures for them ever since. I have done lots and lots of them, and then recently, my father bought me a block of clay, and i started making them out of that, and my family love them, and are very excited and think i should be selling them. i dont know, i dont have much confidence yet. i might. i wanted to know your opinions??

I have been working on doing lots of different characters. ones in costumes, couples, bride and grooms, mother and babies, birthday ones with balloons with the age on them, and even making them into cake toppers. I can also customise them, so people have a choice of hair and clothing colours. What do you think?? Do you tihnk they are the sort of thing people would want to buy?? I would sell them in my etsy shop and on ebay, and possibly even craft fairs?? i dont know. I would love to get some feedback from you??

I think I would price them at £4- £5 each, if I was to sell them. please be honest and tell me whether you like them or not??

thank you everybody, im very grateful for all the comments i recieve even if i am rubbish at getting back to everybody. you are all wonderful and make me smile :)

p.s: have now added some figures to my etsy shop :) im a bit nervous but very excited about it!!

x ♥

happy list ♥

2010-09-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

reasons to be happy:

1. i just got back from a lovely little holiday on the isle of wight and have come back feeling inspired. I want to move there one day, and have my own little shop to sell my artwork. i adore it there.

2. I have two new adorable little kittens who make me smile

3. i have my little poppy pops who gives me teeny snuggles whenever i need them

4. my family. i have lots of giggles with them.

5. my David. i am very lucky to have fallen in love with a boy at 15 and still be with him to this day. we are best friends and he makes me very very happy.

6. even though it has been hard, i am about to start my last year at uni and have almost finished the course i always wanted to do.

7. people like my artwork. i have to start believing them.

8. i have lovely friends. uni friends who buy me harry potter bookends, and moon best friends who send me wonderful post and make me smile.

9. I have been drawing little pictures for my freinds and family with coloured pencils, and have been making little people and toadstalls out of clay my father bought me recently

10. mother just made me a peppermint tea in my beatrix potter cup and saucer

what is making you happy at the moment??

♥ x

lots and lots of kittiens ♥

2010-08-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Peppermint tea in my favourite kitty cup. little alfie, playing and bieng adorable. purring very very loudly!!

and a suprise from father. coming home one evening, with a teeny furry ball. fluffy and black with a loud meow. little archie, with a face like a little teddy bear. so very cute. a little firend for alfie, a cuddley new member of the family!! kittens everywhere...

hello kitty bubbles, from aunties and uncles anniversary party, where they handed out little organza pouches of pink bon bons and roses.

i want quiet this week. to play with kittens and make artwork and read books. and then next weekend i go on holiday with my family. i cannot wait ♥

x ♥

20 and suprises

2010-08-09T12:57:00.000-07:00

The house is ever so empty without snowy. I am missing him lots. But my summer otherwise has been lovely, I am going to try to be more positive!!

I love spending so much time with my family. And I do not have to miss David too much either, he has been coming to stay for weeks at a time. This summer has been quiet and peaceful. Mother and I go for walks around the park every morning which has been lovely. Then we come in and eat porridge with strawberries and watch old TV programmes and films. There have been family parties and celebrations. And days out. A week with Davids family, taking walks through the countryside and meeting horses and pigs and goats and sheep. And I turnt 20. Goodness, it feels strange!! 20 years old. I was thoroughly spoilt by friends and family on my birthday. my family, my David and I visited covent garden. it is such an amazing place. you must visit if you get the chance!! and all of my family came to my house for a celebration. my sister and i decorated the gareden with balloons and banners and sprinkles of stars and bunting. I received the most wonderful gifts. I received lovely jewellery. An owl to hang around my neck, a rose for my finger, an unusual and very pretty ring, a gigantic clock to hang around my neck like the white rabbit, and a pretty daisy necklace and floral heart earrings from charlotte. And I received a boat in a bottle which I adore.

I got such pretty clothes too a t-shirt with an owl on. A polkadot skirt. A stripy sailor top and pyjamas. A floral skirt, a polkadot dress, a mint green dress. A dress with peacock feathers. A red coat for winter. Pretty beaded sandals.

A charm bracelet with stars and moons jingling away. from my moon best friend charlotte. A fairy skirt.

Pretty nail varnishes and pink colour for my lips

Some lovely books including the last twilight (!!!!)

I was particularly spoilt by dearest charlotte. She sent me the most amazing package full of wonderful hand made treasures and pretty gifts. Chocolate and my jewellery and a cute pencil and a little teddy from Greece and a storybook and letters and stickers and others little bits and pieces of amazingness and wonder. A little handmade card. A handmade badge with 20 and a pony on it. The cutest hairclip. And a very very special dvd. One I have been unable to get my hands on, but have wished for for a very long time. The secret of moonacre. I do not think I deserved such wonder!!

And if you look at the last photo very carefully, you may spot something. A little paw reaching over. a little nose. Adorable little alfie. My parents bought us a new kitten while I was away at Davids mothers. He was such a surprise. But a wonderful, adorable surprise!!

He has not replaced snowy, he is very very different and nothing could ever replace snowy. But he is the most adorable, playful, curious and clumsy little thing and I love him lots and lots already. He has been following me around the house getting into all kinds of mischief. It was difficult to take any pictures where he didn’t jump in front of the camera to pounce and play. He particularly loves the little teddy charlotte gave me.

How are your summers?? I have missed yu all, I know I have been away quite a while now. But I am back and much much cheerier!! Thank you for your sweet messages on my last post, they did make me feel much much better ♥

X ♥

Snowy ♥

2010-07-26T10:44:00.000-07:00

Sweetheart, we miss you so much ♥

This summer is not going the way I had hoped and wished for. we lost fifi first. there has been illness and tears. mosre illness. money woes. and now, we have lost snowy. my dearest snowy. the magic cat, that as a little girl, i called snowy, because i thought it funny, him being so black. soon after, he started growing white spots. as though he had been taking a walk in the snow.

When he was a kitten, he was so playful. he would sleep on my bed every night, then at six every morning would wake me up, and I would play with him, with the tie from my dressing gown, until it was time for school. then as we have both got older, he has preferred to just sit with me, for hours. and he would follow me around the house where ever i went, his little bell tinkling. he wuold make me laugh by getting up to all sorts of mischief. and now we have lost him. The house seems so empty. My heart is completely broken.

This summer has not gone as planned. It is our birthday on Friday, my father and I. I do not feel cheery about it at all.

Oh I do hope I can come back here with some good news. everything has been too depressing lately.

I'm sorry dears.

I hope your summers are happy ones.

x ♥

Rose

2010-06-21T04:17:00.000-07:00

Sadness and tears. My sisters little hamster fifi died this week. she was very poorly and the medicine did not work. Ive been trying to cheer my little sister up but she is very upset. We were worried that poppy would get ill too, but she seems ok at the moment. fingers crossed ever so tight, hoping and hoping.

Despite the sadness I am having a lovely time at home. I made a few changes to mine and my sisters room. I made a collage of photographs of me and my David in the shape of a heart on one wall. I strung up some family photographs with ribbon over my bed. I think itsmade the room a little bit coier, a little bit nicer.

I visited my Nana and Grandfather yesterday. Their garden is looking ever so lovely. Their plum tree is getting so tall, i remember when it was just a baby. And they have their vegtable patch with poatoes and rhubarb. and they are growing raspberries and strawberries, that me and my little brother snacked on whilst we were there. We also ate her homemade yorkshire puddings which have always been my favourites. And her roses are looking so beautiful too.

There seems to be roses everywhere this summer. Our rose bush is looking wonderful in the back garden. 'Rose'anne. Roses on my clothes. Rose coloured nails. Rose bud lips. Rosie cheeks. Roses on my locket. Roses on my fingers. Rose lip balm. Rosie Roses.

How are your summers??

x ♥

summer dreams ♥

2010-06-14T11:02:00.000-07:00

afternoons in the garden, pretty flowers, beatrix potter, home made meals, pies, ice cream, tea and tea and more tea, looking through old photographs, finding old treasures, clearing out bedrooms and sorting so its nice and cosy, finding old love notes and cinema ticket and photos, little wind up music players, kitty and benjamin playing little twinkley notes, watchig movies, playing games outside, bike rides, drawing and writing, reciveing pretty mint green post from dearest charlotte, smiling and laughing, listening to the pretty sounds of regina spektor, muse, eliza doolittle, poalo mutini, temper trap, and my little lovely diana vickers. planning summer trips and parties and celebrations. hugs and catch ups. suprises. waiting for David to join me here. missing him already. feeling like a 15 year old again, at home and missing my love. I believe this is going to be the best summer for a long time ♥

♥

2010-06-02T07:36:00.000-07:00

I am having such a wonderful start to my summer. walks to the lake to feed the ducks and baby geese, holding hands with my David. Spending evenings watching films and eating home made treats. Brwonies and fudge, pancakes and pies. Nutella on toast and chocolate milk. lots of cups of tea. Twilight reading. Goodness!!!! My friend let me borrow her books as she was so utterly shocked I had not read them. I have read the first two, I am now about to start the third. I am in love love love ♥ I shall have to watch the films also!!

And I adopre having time to make artwork that is just for me, not for grades or tutors. Having time to fill sketchbooks with collages and drawings. I have been doing lots of drawings lately. This weekend I drew my poppy-pops...

And then I drew her friend, Charlottes little tilly~rose

And next week, father shall pick me and my Poppy up and take us home for summer. I cannot wait ♥

Being home also means time to reply to all of you lovelies. here we still have no internet in the house with the mint green front door. So I have to make trips to the library to update my little diary. So lots more writing to you starting next week!!

love x ♥

fairy boots ♥

2010-05-20T07:42:00.000-07:00

hello dears!! my boots arrived, but not as I expected!!! the person selling them on ebay obviously has a very strange camera, and what seemed to be pretty mint green boots with peachy laces were actually very very dark green with brown laces. yuck :(

So I decided to make them pretty!!! I bought some white leather dye, and added some sequins and ribbons and here they are!!! I love them ♥

(I have also added this on my lookbook if your ineterested :) the link is in my sidebar!)

love

♥ x

hello again ♥

2010-05-17T05:22:00.000-07:00

hello!! I have missed it here ever such a lot. Finally I have finished my year at uni and have time to blog again!! Although my camera has decided to hide, so you must excuse the pictures, they're taken with my phone and are not very good really.

I had my end of year exhibition, after weeks and weeks of hardly any sleep, working late into the night. The piece I made for the show was a big big park with the miniature figures. The piece was 4ft x 4ft, and had 63 figures in it!! They were all children, playing and exploring. it took much much longer to make than I expected it too, making each little tree and sticking on its leaves and making the earth and the grass and the paths, having to paint and glue each tiny detail. The piece was put on the floor of the gallery, so that the people who came to see it had to crouch down like children playing with little toys. I was ever so nervous about it being in the exhibition. my family came to see the opening and to stay for the weekend, too, which was lovely. Luckily, people seemed to really like my work!!!! it was wonderful to watch as people went over and smiled as they found another detail, another child climbing a tree, or little girls whispering secrets in each others ears.

While my family were visiting for the weekend, we took a trip to the peak district. It was so so beautiful!! We stopped at a little farm we found too, that was selling the most delicious homemade ice cream. And we saw all the baby animals, like the new born lambs and baby cows. Whilst petting the lambs, they seemed to confuse me for their mother and began sucking on my fingers!! I had 3 of them, with a finger each, and they wouldnt let me go!! It was adorable!! My father took some lovely pictures, but he cant send them to me because he hasnt worked out how to put them onto the computer yet. hehe!! Whilst in the peak district, I found a teeny tiny wooden chicken hidden in the corner of a shop for a couple of pennies. I had to take her home, shes adorable!! her name is minnie.

since finishing uni, I have been a little bit naughty. I got a nice little suprise of some extra money I didnt realise I was getting. so I have bought myself a few treats!! Dresses of florals and tiny horse prints. Gold sparkly tops and pretty little skirts. Pale pinks and lace. some floral jeans. Some new ribbon, and cord, and charms. A new haircut. snip snip snip. my hair was in terrible condition, so the lady cut it to just below my shoulders. It feels very different but much much better!! and a little ebay find. Some boots. Mint green with peach laces, which that I now have to wait for, to arrive in the post. please hurry mr postman!!

I have also been doing lots of baking now I have more time. I have made some lovely brownies, and some dilicious peanut butter fudge!! I got the recipe from Sophie Dahls show. I adore her and her prettiness and her stories and her lovely lovely homely recipes. My David and I have been enjoying the little homemade treats in the evening wth cups of tea, until our tummies were completely full of sweetness!!

I am still working, as a waitress and behind the bar at uni, until the end of June. And then I get to go home!! I cannot wait. i have lots of arty projects planned, and books I want to read, and lots of cuddles. With my little brother and my poppy pops. I cannot wait, I really really cannot wait!!!

And of course, lots more blogging!! I have missed it lots, and I have missed you lots. How are you all??

♥ x

dream ♥

2010-05-07T03:58:00.000-07:00

everything here has been crazily busy. I have hardly slept in two weeks. everything feels like im dreaming, barely able to lift my eyelids. every bone in my body aches. on Monday, it will all be over.

I have so much to tell you all!!

love x ♥

stars

2010-04-21T15:21:00.000-07:00

Miss Rosie... ♥

2010-04-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

This week I get to be an art teacher, which is ever so lovely. Today I taught the children how to make little fairy houses out of clay. Friday we paint and decorate them, and hope the fairies like them when they move in! Tomorrow I teach them how to make some magical pendants to hang around their necks. Perhaps this is what I shall do when I am completely and fully grown up. I do love being miss Rosie ♥

homesick

2010-04-11T02:58:00.000-07:00

Suprise notes on the bathroom mirror and my grandfathers pictures and letters home from the war always help to cure homsickness.

Leving today will make me cry terribly, but my David is always there to dry my tears.

♥ x